Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
I love this. Especially because Wharton admired James so much...and James was quite critical of Eliot (even though, from what I've read, he really did love Middlemarch, he also had feedback on it...). Him giving Wharton feedback she was too "Eliot-like" seems like a lovely way for him to remind Wharton to be her own writer, and to own what makes her so unique. Thanks for sharing this!!
I think Eliot in Middlemarch was more a big wide river and Wharton in Custom... more crisp like a rapid. There was also much back and forth time management in Wharton that I don't remember in Eliot... Both great tho
I just got my copy the other day and have already tabbed it out like you recommended! I've always been a big reader, but I've been feeling a pull to read more deeply and analytically lately. Sadly, younger me prioritized reading entirely for fun and escapeism, and I missed a lot of depth and literary knowledge. I've learned a lot with my own studies and have filled some gaps, but I'm excited to join a bigger group and discussion and learn more!
My personality and ambitions are just like Undine's. (I've finished the book, so I'm not saying this without knowing what that can lead to!) She's in my Resting B*tch Face Heroines club with Anna Karenina, Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind, Kristin Lavransdatter, and Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair. They have the "I will get what I want and I don't care how it hurts other people" ambition and drive.
When I recommended Gone with the a Wind to a friend, he texted me, "Scarlett is the most horrible character in fiction." At the same moment, I texted him, "Scarlett is just like me!" 🤣 I don't presume to say this is a good thing about me, but know thyself!
Often when I read these books and see exactly the way I think in print (where how other people might be affected by my single-minded pursuit of my goals doesn't occur to me in the least), it makes me glad to be Catholic and I head out to confession!
Without seeing these characters, I could be just as uncaring about other people and not notice. Or just be surprised when other people tell me my actions hurt them. Because of these excellently drawn literary women (when I read Anna Karenina I said, "How did Tolstoy see inside my head??!") I can intentionally choose to care about other people, since it doesn't naturally occur to me to do so.
Have fun. I'm almost halfway through it. Not as long as Middlemarch. No spoilers but I will say Wharton's metaphors are even richer than Eliot's
Wharton is so dang good. Reading Middlemarch was so fun in part because I can’t help but see so much of Eliot in Wharton and James.
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
Hello Haley… something is happening to me on your Wharton thread… cannot reply to anyone and on Kate's thread about selfish and vain female characters I cannot even give it a ❤️ Not asking you to do anything. Just letting you know
In her biography, Henry James gives her feedback on one of her drafts of another of her books as too "Eliot-like"!
I love this. Especially because Wharton admired James so much...and James was quite critical of Eliot (even though, from what I've read, he really did love Middlemarch, he also had feedback on it...). Him giving Wharton feedback she was too "Eliot-like" seems like a lovely way for him to remind Wharton to be her own writer, and to own what makes her so unique. Thanks for sharing this!!
I think Eliot in Middlemarch was more a big wide river and Wharton in Custom... more crisp like a rapid. There was also much back and forth time management in Wharton that I don't remember in Eliot... Both great tho
I just got my copy the other day and have already tabbed it out like you recommended! I've always been a big reader, but I've been feeling a pull to read more deeply and analytically lately. Sadly, younger me prioritized reading entirely for fun and escapeism, and I missed a lot of depth and literary knowledge. I've learned a lot with my own studies and have filled some gaps, but I'm excited to join a bigger group and discussion and learn more!
I can't wait to start!
My personality and ambitions are just like Undine's. (I've finished the book, so I'm not saying this without knowing what that can lead to!) She's in my Resting B*tch Face Heroines club with Anna Karenina, Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind, Kristin Lavransdatter, and Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair. They have the "I will get what I want and I don't care how it hurts other people" ambition and drive.
When I recommended Gone with the a Wind to a friend, he texted me, "Scarlett is the most horrible character in fiction." At the same moment, I texted him, "Scarlett is just like me!" 🤣 I don't presume to say this is a good thing about me, but know thyself!
Often when I read these books and see exactly the way I think in print (where how other people might be affected by my single-minded pursuit of my goals doesn't occur to me in the least), it makes me glad to be Catholic and I head out to confession!
Without seeing these characters, I could be just as uncaring about other people and not notice. Or just be surprised when other people tell me my actions hurt them. Because of these excellently drawn literary women (when I read Anna Karenina I said, "How did Tolstoy see inside my head??!") I can intentionally choose to care about other people, since it doesn't naturally occur to me to do so.
This is amazing. You need to run this RBF book club! What a lineup. I totally agree that Undine fits this crowd.
I finished chapter one of Custom and the Country today, and I couldn't agree with your assessment more - TOTAL Scarlett O'Hara vibes!
So excited for this!! September has me in the back-to-school spirit, so I can't wait to dive into this book and discuss it with everyone :)
It’s going to be so fun! I’m excited!
This is my first closely reading and my first Edith Wharton! I’m so excited to really slow down and savour what I’m reading.
Oooooh welcome, welcome!! You’re starting with an excellent Wharton. (And we’ve done two others, should you be inspired to read more from her!)
Just tabbed my copy, so excited to do another read along with you!
Yay!! Thanks Alexandra!